membered-every detail exactly the same, which

ot, all the memories came flooding back. The dry fountain still stood at the entrance, waiting for renovations. It would finally run at her fifth anniversary party, she remembered

yed proud, as if handing his daughter off to wolves was an honor. Selene kept quiet. She'd

meant for twelve but only six chairs set out today. Aldric Voss sat at the head like a king, broad-shouldered

ngled slightly away from

This was the moment she'd prepared for-lying awake at dawn, replaying it over br

would vanish after years of war. That's what got her: in her memory, her husband wore an armor o

sed by the whole performance. As if these negotiations bored hi

lly sitting across from, she thou

ith something cold lurking underneath. "You look wel

e any nineteen-year-old bride-to-be whose future was b

ss, polite words men use to hide who truly holds power. Se

nt to watch. Back then, that silence unsettled her. She used to hunt for sign

opponent at a poker table: searching for tells, hi

th a thought he couldn't voice. His eyes kept darting her way-subtle enough no one else would notice, but enough

ck. "My son has a few question

n invitation. He leaned in, elbows on

't really a question. His voice wasn't as deep as

s stare, calm. "I'

mile, but not quite. "Most people who s

ching his reaction. "Even the clause about succession disp

hing s

ing. Her father made a little sound beside

Looking back, she guessed this was when the strange respect betwe

before. Now, she meant to

ric said, steadying himself. "

ferential and harmless. "I'd l

sion drip, the way men do when

, that clause was used against her, stripping away authority

mily stays mine-however I get it. Doesn't depend on blood

t, heavier

his eyes, she saw his calculatio

Aldric said, slo

back like she had at nineteen. "I'm asking as someone who plans t

dy s

most too low: "I think w

at Selene couldn't fully read-not yet. She guessed the dynamic, though. Whatever Ald

ce carried a warning b

ake his eyes off Selene, and his words were for her

was nothing like the first negotiation, when she'd accepte

rewriting the rules b

d stiff-and Selene knew she'd just won a real c

d Damia

e kind of curiosity that meant he'd realized the

careful and composed, the picture of a steady young bride. Go ahead and study